ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER.-- Memory.
READINGS:
1 R : Gen 1: 26 - 2: 3.
Ps 89 : 2, 3 - 4, 12 - 13, 14 & 16.
Gos : Mt 13 : 54 - 58.
TODAY THE CHURCH CELEBRATES THE MEMORY OF ST JOSEPH, THE PATRON AND STRENGTH OF WORKERS.
THE READINGS TODAY CALL UPON US TO REFLECT GOD'S DESIGNS ON HUMAN LABOUR.
ACCORDING TO THE FIRST READING , GOD IS THE " WORKER ". CREATION IS THE HANDIWORK OF GOD.
THE SEVENTH DAY REST IS TO IMPRESS UPON EVERY HUMAN BEING NOT TO BE ' WORKOHOLIC ' BUT TO ALSO SPARE SOME TIME FOR GOD, NEIGHBOUR AND SELF. OTHERWISE WORK ITSELF MAY BECOME AN END IN ITSELF AND TURN MECHANICAL AND MEANINGLESS.
IN THE GOSPEL JESUS IS IDENTIFIED AS THE SON OF A CARPENTER. IT NOT ONLY UNDERLINES THE FACT THAT JOSEPH MADE A LIVING BY CARPENTRY, BUT MOST PROBABLY JESUS CONTINUED IT TILL HE LEFT FOR RIVER JORDAN.
TODAY LETS ONCE AGAIN ACCEPT THAT EVERY HONEST JOB HAS EQUAL DIGNITY. WHITE COLLAR OR BULE COLLAR, MANUAL OR INTELLECTUAL, THE JOB HAS EQUAL HONOUR BEFORE GOD. MONEY IS NOT THE FINAL WORD. HONEST WORK IS.
HONESTY AND HARD WORK IS THE ONLY SURE PATH TO SUCCESS.
LETS ALSO OFFER OUR HONEST WORK AND LIFE TO GOD AS THE MOST PLEASING SACRIFICE ACCEPTABLE TO GOD , ALONG WITHE THE ONLY PERFECT AND SALVIFIC SACRIFICE OF JESUS.
